Kelsey Weaver

A combination of fearlessness, resilience, curiosity, and the incredible people who believed in me along the way.

A lot of my career came from simply being willing to try things — sending the email, asking for the meeting, speaking up in the room, or walking into spaces that felt intimidating at the time. I’m not sure I actually knew any better, and I think sometimes not knowing what you’re “supposed” to be afraid of can actually become a strength.

I also put a lot of heart into everything I do. I genuinely care about people, relationships, and helping connect others in meaningful ways, and I think people can feel when something is authentic versus transactional. Many of the opportunities in my life came through relationships built over years of trust, curiosity, and consistently showing up for people.

At the same time, resilience has probably been one of the biggest defining factors in my life and career. Things rarely go exactly as planned, and I’ve learned that setbacks, rejection, and uncertainty are part of building anything meaningful. The ability to keep moving forward — without losing your optimism or your sense of self — matters tremendously.

My father shaped me in a big way. He raised my siblings and me largely on his own while working incredibly hard and traveling constantly for work. He taught me resilience, independence, and what real effort looks like, but he also taught me not to be afraid of being different. I was always encouraged to be myself, stay curious, and never just tell people what they wanted to hear. I think a lot of my fearlessness and authenticity came from that.

I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to have mentors, friends, colleagues, and family members who believed in me, encouraged me, and opened doors along the way. No one builds a meaningful career alone, and I never forget that.

I’m not sure I was ever given one defining piece of career advice, but I was given a lot of freedom and trust to find my own way. Looking back, that may have been the greatest gift. I was encouraged to explore, ask questions, take chances, and figure things out through experience rather than fear of failure.

Be genuine, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to leave something that no longer fits. A lot of people walk into industries like finance or technology feeling like they need to fit a very specific mold. In reality, some of your greatest strengths come from the parts of you that are different. The ability to build relationships, communicate clearly, connect people, and bring emotional intelligence into conversations is incredibly valuable — especially in industries evolving as quickly as ours.

I also don’t think careers are as linear as they once were. Some of the best opportunities come from unexpected paths, curiosity, and being willing to pivot when something no longer feels aligned.

The pace of change — and the amount of uncertainty that comes with it.

Technology, regulation, consumer expectations, and financial infrastructure are all evolving at the same time, and organizations are trying to figure out how to move quickly without losing the trust they’ve spent decades building.

Customers now expect everything to feel instant and seamless — whether that’s payments, onboarding, or access to information — but they also expect security, transparency, and human support when they need it. Balancing innovation with trust is one of the biggest challenges facing financial services right now.

I also believe one of the biggest opportunities is bringing more diverse perspectives into leadership conversations. Different backgrounds and experiences lead to better questions, better ideas, and ultimately better outcomes. In periods of rapid change, diversity of thought becomes even more important.

Authenticity, thoughtfulness, and genuine human connection.

We live in a world where so much can be automated, outsourced, or optimized, and I think there’s real value in still being someone who shows up personally and intentionally. I love people’s quirks and the moments when someone trusts you enough to be vulnerable and fully themselves. I value honesty, transparency, open-mindedness, and people with real character. I’ve never cared much for workplace politics — I care far more about integrity, kindness, and being respected for who you are and how you treat people.

I also think humor and self-awareness go a long way. Some of my favorite people are the ones who are a little quirky, curious, and don’t take themselves too seriously.

Outside of work, I’m happiest at home, spending time with my pups, Futhi and Thanda, my husband Tom, drinking wine with friends, or immersed in one of my many creative side projects. I carry markers and cardstock everywhere I go to make handmade cards, and I’m a perpetual learner — whether that’s picking up a new skill, trying a new sport, or diving into completely different topics, like astrology :)